Elevator.



P. WRIGHT.

ELEVATOR.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

"3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. WRIGHT.

ELEVATO'.

APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

987,663, v Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

m 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I yaw/777,; (II/IIIIIIIIIIII will P. WRIGHT.

- ELEVATOR. APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 25, 1904.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3 I a hydraulic elevator,

pagticularly to PARVIN WRIGHT, OF LOS ANGELES, UALIFORNI IA.

nnnvar on.

lb all whom it may concern;

Be it known that I, PARVIN WRIGHT, a citizen of the United-States of America, rein the county of Los Ange es, State of California, have invented certain Improvements in Elevators, of which the followmg is a specification.

This invention relates to elevators, and more assenger elevators, and the general object 0 the invention is to provide an elevator possessing all the advantages of but. operated indirectly by an electric motor.

A further object oftheinvention is to provided constant li uid pressure substan-. tially equal to the .weight of the hydraulic piston and car and car lifting mechanism liquid under such pressure being delivered to a centrifugal pump and by such pump increased sufliciently to operate thelcan,

A furtherobject is to reduce both the cost of manufacture and the operating expense of such an elevator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hydraulically operated elevator in which is utilized a pressure tank, in which is maintained a constant pressure, and in connection therewith a suitable pump, such for instance as a centrifugal pump, driven by a suitable motor, for increasing the pressure from. such pressure tank to the lifting piston when it is desired to raise the car, and utilizing the pressure of the tank to counterbalance the car or cage.

A further object of the invention is to so ,connect such pumping means'with such hydraulic operating means that said pump may be driven in one direction regardless of the v partly in section, of an'elevator direction of the elevator lift or cage.

Other and further objects and ends in view will hereinafter appear from the tie tail description of construction and opera tion.

The invent-ion consists further in various constructions and combinations of parts, all as hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the claims, and Will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specificatlon, and in which, v

Figure l is a longitudinal elevation, embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the main valve, showing the pilot valve in normal position with its casing removed. Fig.

. Fig. 1.

the line X -X Specification of Letters Patent. Patent d M 21, 1911, Application flled August 25, 19114.. Serial No.

' 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the main or commutative valve on the line X-X of Fig. 8, showing the pistons in normal positions, the pilot valve having been turned and the pressure being about to enter the pilot cylinder, to start the elevator up. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the positions the pistons occupy when the elevator cage'is being raised. Fig. 5 shows the rocking arm and pilot valve in the positions which they assume when the pistons of the main valve are in the positions of Fig. 3, the pilot valvebein shownin dotted lines and the lower electrical contact is shown in this figure as having been made to start the pump. Fig. 6 shows the rocking arm and pilot valve in the positions which they assame when the pistons of the main valve occupy the positions shownin Fig. 4, the pilot valve being shown in dotted lines and the lower electrical contact having been released from the position of Fig. 5, and the upper contact having been automatically substituted. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional view of the pilot valve. Fig. 8 is a plan view of the apparatus on the line X X of Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the throttle valve. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal elevation similar to Fig. 2, showing the check valve and pump. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the main valve taken on of Fig. 2, looking toward the pressure tank or retort, the electrical devices being removed for clearness. Fig. 12 is a sectional plan view of the main valve on the line X -X of Fig. 3, the electrical devices beingremoved. Fig. 13 is a vertical elevation of the lifting cylinder, in midway. position, showing the levers for controlling the throttle valve.

7 As shown in the drawings, 2 represents the main valve cylinder or casing, which I may be of any suitable or preferred shape or construction. This cylinder has its interior separated into two chambers, 3, 3, connected together by the cylinders 4:, 4, spaced apart by the central partition 5.

, 6, 6 represent piston rous carrying valves, 7, 7, and having heads, 8, 8, into the piston chambers 9, 9', preferably below the casing or cylinder 2, and either formed separate therefrom or integral therewith, as preferred. The casing 2 is provided on opposite sides with ports 10, 11,-

and 12, 13, the ports 11,13 being preferably which extend inders 4, through series of peripheral inlets,

as shown. The port 11 is provided with a small port 14,. outside the peripheral mists of the cylinder 4. This port 14 is connected' with a pi e 15 leading to the port 16 of the pilot va ve. The port 17 is con: nected by a pipe 18 with the port 19 of the pilot valve. The ports 20, 20 of the pilot valve are connected respectively by pipes 21,

21 with ports 22, 22' opening into the piston chambers 9, 9. v

The pilot valve 23 comprises a segmental plate having a recess in its under face, and the plate is mounted on a shaft 24 which extends through the central partition 5 and is provided'on its opposite end with an arm 25. A pilot valve chamber 26 is formed by a recess in the casting of the main valve cylinder, this recess being closed by a plate 27, suitably held in place and suitably packed.

28 represents a rocking arm, and through this rocking arm, about the center thereof, passes a pin .29, on which is fixed an arm 1 30. This arm 30 is mounted on a bolt or shaft 31 extending through the central partition 5, at a point above the shaft 24. The upper end of the rocking arm 28 is provided with an interior rack 32 adapted to mesh with a pinion 33, carried on a shaft 34 extending through the chamber 3 of the main valve casing. This shaft 34 issuitably packed and within the chamber 3 is provided with a pinion 35 adapted to mesh with racks 36, 36 extending upward from p the piston valves 7, 7 respectively.

'The recess or channel in the inner face of the-plate or pilot valve 23 is long enough to cover or communicate with the openings 19, 20 and 20 when the plate is standing in. its normal position as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, but when the plate is shifted to one side or the other the recess will only cover the port or opening 19 and one of the others, as 20, as shown in Fig. 5. When standing in its normal position the pressure of the water from the port 16 is shut off from and can not communicate with either of the ports or openings 20 and 20 and the pressure from the other three ports, 19, 20 and 20 is equalized and the valve mechanism remains stationary. As soon, however, as the plate or pilot valve is shifted so as to uncover one or the other of the ports 20 or 20 and place it in communication with'the port 16 the excessive pressure fro-m that port caused by -the action of the pump which hasbeen started simultaneously with the shifting of the pilot valve, will pass down through the respective pipe to the lower end of the piston chamber and thereby actuate the valve mechanlsm so as to cause the water to pass through the commutative valve to or from the elevating mechanism as it is desired to move the ca'ge upward or downward.

The port 12 is connected by a suitable.

pipe with the pressure tank 37 and in the pipe is preferably inter osed a valve 38. The port 10 is connected with the piston chamber of the hydraulic lifting mechanism by a pipe 39, and interposed in this connecting pipe is a throttle valve 40, which is controlled and operated as will be hereinafter described. The port 13 is connected with a pipe. 41 which leads to the centrifugal pump, indicated by A, while-the port 11 is connected with a pipe 42 leading from the centrifugal pump A.

43 represents the casing of the lifting piston and 44 the piston. On top of the easing 43 is suitably. mounted a guide frame 45, and the piston 44 carries at its top a spider 46, in which is mounted a suitable" s aft upon which the pulleys 47, 47 are loosely mounted. In the frame 48, supporting the cylinder or= casing 43, and below such cylinder or casing, pulleys 49, 49' are loosely mounted in a suitable shaft.

B represents a lift or car, which may be of the ordinary or any preferred construction, and may run in the ordinary or any preferred guides. This car is connected by a cable 50, which extends over suitable pulleys 51, 52, suitably arranged at the top of the elevator shaft and in suitable relation to the position of the lifting piston 44. From the pulley 52 the cable 50 extends down about the pulley or sheave 49', thence up the opposite side of the cylinder 43 and over the pulley or sheave 47, thence down and about the pulley 49, thence up and over the pulley 47, and thence to anchorage, as for instance, at 53 in the frame 48.

The valve 40 is mounted on a shaft 54 which is provided, outside the valve casing, with an arm or lever 55 that normally stands longitudinally of or parallel with the pipe 39. A rod 57 is pivotally connected with one end of the lever and extends up alongside of the cylinder 43 and the frame 45. Two arms 58 and 58 aremounted on one side of the frame with one end of each pivotally connected with the rod 57 andthe other end located in the path of a wheel 59 and adapted to be actuated thereby and thus automatically close the valve through the rod 57 and lever 55 when the spider or bracket 46 reaches the limit of its movement in either direction. The roller or wheel 59 is preferably secured to the spider by means of a stub axle 60 and each arm is provided with a finger 58 which projects therefrom at right angles to the base line of the arm and is so located that when. the wheel 59 engages with either arm and moves it to its limit the finger will be drawn into the path of the wheel after the wheel has so engaged,- and when the-wheel starts on lever 55 to standin-an loss of air to a minimum.

its return movement it will engage with said finger and thereby rock the arms back into their normal the valve 40. A wei ht 56 is preferably adjustably secured to t e lever 55 tocounterbalance any-excessive weight or undue friction that might occur, thus permittin the .positlon to which it may be moved. I

In the pressure tank or reservoir 37, 1 provide a float 62, suitably located so that the air above said float forms an air cushion adapted to hold the float against the liquid. This float serves to prevent=the pulsation or bubbling of the liquid in the pressure-tank. The floating partition 62 also serves to reduce the absorption of air in the body of water in the tank. It will be understood that as the water is forced into the tank it compresses the air in the upper portion of the tank and this tends to increase the amount of air taken up by the water. The effect of this is to continually drain the tank of air as the water charged with air passes to other"parts of the system and the provision of the floating partition reduces this An operating arm 63 has one end connected with.the rocking arm 28 and its other end connected with the usual elevator controlling device, as shown best in Fig. 1.

The ump A is operated by an electric motor connected by suitable circuits with r a rheostat D. This rheostat may be of the particular construction and arrangement shown in the drawings, or of any ordinary or preferred form or construction. The rocking arm-28 is adapted to complete the circuits through the rheostat to the electric" motor. 64 represents a circuit breaker, which may be of the ordinary or any preferred construction or arrangement. As shown, it consists of a pivoted arm, carrying at one enda contact plate, and at the other end a roller adapted to contact with aishoulder or projection 65 on the upper-end of the rocking arm 28. The contact plate 64'is adapted to complete the electric circuit through the contacts 66. A similar circuit breaker 67 is arranged at the lower endof the rocking arm 28 and is likewise operated by themovement of the rocking arm and adapted to complete the circuit, when the rocking arm is in the position of Fig. 5. It will be noted, as shown in Fig. 1, that when the rocking arm is in a vertical position and the piston 44 is stationary, both the circuit breakers 64 and 67 are held out of contact with and the circuit is broken and the electric motor atrest. y

' The operation is as 'foll'owsL-Assume the valve 38 to have beenopened. The elevator operator throws his lever and pulls forward the rod 63 thereby pulling forward the lower end of the operating arm 28. This motion position and thus open.

36 is moved down,

the contacts of the arm28 throws the valve 23 into the position of.-Fig.-5, throwing the ports 16 and 20 into communication with one another and the ports20 and 19 into communication runderthe valve'23. This reciprocation-of the arm.28,as shown in Fig. 5, also releases the circuit brea-ker 67, so that-the electrical circuitis completed through the same and the electric motor put in operation, thereby starting the pump. Liquid is then-forced throughthe port 14, pipe 15, port 16, port 20, down the pipe 21, into the iston chamber 9 and against the iston 8 forcing the same upward, thereby t n'owing up the valve 7', and-throughthe rack bar 36' motion is imparted to the'pinion 35. and the rack bar carrying downward the valve 7 and piston 8. The liquid forced out from the chamber 9 passes out through the port 22, pipe 21', through ports 20 and 19, under the valve23 and thencethroughpipe l8 and port 17 into the pipe leading to'the suction pipe-of the pump. This operation of the pinion 35 causes the shaft 34 to be rotated, and as the pinion 33 is fixed onthis same shaft, the pinion 33 is correspondingly rotated, and the operating arm 28 thrown to the position of Fig. 6. Asthe arm 63 is held stationary, thisimovement ofithe upper end of the arm 28, through 'the pinion 33 -and rack 32, causes the lower end of the arm .28 to be thrown backto its initial position (that is, causes the lower end of the :arm 28 to occupy the sameposition that it occupied when at rest) and causes the arm '25 to be thrown to a vertical position, thereby automatically operating the valve 23 to move the same from the position of Fig. 5 to its normal position, so that the ports 19, .20and 20 are in communication. Thisautomatic throwing of the arm 28 from the position of Fig. 5 to theposition of Fig. 6 =causes the projection or lug 65 to be withdrawn from the circuit breaker 64, allowing ithe electric circuit to be completed thereby. :and the reciprocation of the lower end of the arm 28 back to its normal position brings rthe lower end ofthe arm again in contact with the roller of, the circuit breaker 67, ib'reaking the circuit, which had been completed thereby. It is'obvious that if the :arm 63' had been thrown in the opposite direction, the lower end of the rocking arm 28 would have been thrown to the left instead of pulled to the right. and, consequently, the valve 23 would have been operated to throw the ports 16 and 20'. into communication; this would have cause the forcing up of the piston 8 and valve 7.

When the piston .valves 7, '7' are in the positions of Fig. '4, liquid from the tank 37 flows .into the pump through the duct 13. The pipe 41 represents the suction pipe of the pump and the pump is aided in producmg the requlsite hydraulic pressure to raise in the pressure tank 37. From the pump the liquid is*forced through the pipe 42, duct 11 into the chamber 3 and out the port 10 6' and thence through the pi e 39, valve 40 to the piston cylinder 43. Vi hen the elevator cage or lift is lowered the pump is 0 erated in the same direction, but the flow 0 liquid is reverse'dby the reversal of the main valve and the flow of liquid from the piston cylinder 43 is through the pipe 39, port 10 into the chamber 3 of'the main valve. In this descendin operation, the piston vlave 7 will be in its raised position and piston valve 7 in its lowered position. This permits the liquid entering the chamber 3 to pass out the port 13 to the pump and the liquid from the pump is forced through port 11, chamber 3' and port 12 into the pressure tank 37 against'the pressure in the pressure tank. By constructing and operating an elevator in this manner the pressure upon the liquid in the tank 37 is utilized to counterbalance the weight of the car and thus the necessity of using other counterbalancing means is avoided.

68 represents a check valve which, as shown, 15 located in the suction pipe of the centrifugal pump. This check valve prevents any back ressure from the pump. It is thus seen tliat with my elevator the pump operates in the same direction whether the cage is going up or down and that the reversal of the flow of liquid from the pressure 35 tank to the elevator cylinder and vice versais efl'ectuated by means independent of the operation of the pump. In the appended claims I refer to this means as a commutative valve and include in that term any valve means whereby the fiow of liquid is reversed between the tank and cylinder irrespective of the operation of the pumping means. The float 62 divides the tank 37 into two compartments, the cubic area of these compartments or chambers varying as the float slides up or down. In the upper compartment I supply compressed air and the float 62 prevents the absorption of this air by the liquid.

I prefer to employ a centrifugal pump for the reason that with such a pump when the exhaust is brought to a stand-still, the centrifugal pump may exhaust "its impetus and it is not necessary to provide any brake means for instantly stopping the pump, and the pump therefore is not required to stop the circulation of the liquid, nor is the impact of stopping in any manner carried by .the pump in my apparatus.

The pressure in the tank 37 is preferably maintained at about 100 lbs. and increased when passing through the pump A to 175 lbs. It is thus seen that the pump A is required only to exercise sufficient energy to raise the liquid from 100 to 175 lbs. pressure, this saving materially the energy required to o erate the pum and car. In descendmg t e weight of t e liftingmecha- 'nism and car deliver the liquid through the pump tothe pressure tank at substantially 100 lbs. pressure requiring the exercise of substantially no energy by the pump in the descending operation. A very decided advantage is thus gained by the use of a centrifuglal pump and the pump is not require to stop the circulation of liquid which 1s accomplis ed by closing the commutative valve.

l laving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to'secure by Letters Patent:

1. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank, a conduit therebetween provided with a commutative valve, a closed fluid circuit connected with said; valve, a centrifugal pump in said circuit, an electric motor: for operating the pump, and means connected with said valve for controlling the motor at. the time of the operation of the valve.

2. In an elevator, an elevator c linder, a pressure tank connected therewit a commutative valve in said connection, a one way ump connected with said valve, a motor or operating the same, a lever provided with means for automatically controlling the motor at the time of the operation of'the valve, means operatively connected with said I lever for controllin the commutative valve, and means for initlally and finally operating the lever, said last mentioned means being adapted to be actuated by the operator.

3. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank connected therewith, a commutative valve in said connect-ion, aone way pump connected with said valve, a motor for operating the same, a lever connected with the Valve and provided with a, plurality of fulcra, means operatively connected with the lever and fulcra for automatically controlling the valve and means for controlling the motor by the lever when the lever is moved.

4. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a

pressure tank connected therewith, a commutative valve in' said connection, a pilot valve for the same, a one way pump connected with the commutative valve, a motor for actuating the pump, a lever connected with said valves and adapted to be actuated by the commutative valve to automatically close the pilot valve and to control the motor, and shifting mechanism connected with the lever and adapted to be actuated by the nected with-said valves and adapted to be connected with the lever at one of its fulcra.

. said chamber, a recessed valve in said chammeans by the operator.

pressure tank connected therewith, a comtor for the pump,

imitative valve in said connection, a pilot .valve for" the same,'a' one way pump co'nmumcation between two of said ports and to start the motor and connected with the commutative valve, a

actuated by the commutative valve to automatically close the "ilot valve and to-eontrol the motor, said lever being provided with two fulcra,"'and shifting mechanism 6. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank connected therewith, a commutative v'aive in said connection, a pilot valve for the same, a one way pump connected with the commutative valve, a momeans for manually actnating the pilot valve to open the same and to start the motor, and means for automatically closing the pilot valve and leaving the commutative valve open without stopping the motor. I 7. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank connected therewith, a comnected withthe commutative valve, an electric motor for the pump having two switches in its circuit,'a lever connected with said valves and adapted to control said switches so as to open both of them or to close either of them when the other one is open, -and means for manually actuating said lever.

8. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank connected therewith, a com mutative valve in said connection, a motor for the commutative valve, a four ported valve chamber for the valve for the motor, a one-way pump connected with the commu: tative valveand with two of the ports of her adapted to open communication between three of said ports, or only two of them, a motor for the pum controlling means for moving said recesse valve for opening comto open communicatibn between three of them when the motor is either running or standing still, and means for. manually actuating said controlling 9. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a mutative valve in said connection provided with two piston valves, each of said piston. valves being provided witha rack, a shaft and two pinions adapted to be actuated by said racks, a lever provided with a rack at one end adapted to be actuated by one of said pinions, a pilot valve connected with said lever and adapted to control the movements of said piston valves, a one way pump pump adapted to be controlled and means for manually acmotor. for the by said lever,

ceases connected with said valve,

tuating said lever by the operator.

10. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure'tank connected therewith, a commutative valve in said connection compriselongated chambers at one end and two centrally perforated ducts atthe middle for connecting the chambers in the casing, a piston valve in each duct having a piston at one end in one of said elongated chambers and a rack at the other, a shaft and two pinions, one of the pinions being in engage- -ment with said racks, a lever having a rack at one end in engagement with the other pinion, a one way pump connected with the commutative valve casing, a pilot valve communicating with the pump and with the elongated chambers, means for connecting the pilot valve with the lever so that when the lever is manually operated the piston valveswill be automatically actuated to direct the passage of the liquid through said commutative valve, a motor for the pump adapted to be controlled by said lever, and means connected with the lever for actuating the same by the operator.

11. A reversing valve for elevators comprising two chambers having independent ducts and common into which said common ducts communicate, piston valves in said cylinders, said piston valves having operating pistons and provided with racks, piston chambers wherein said pistons operate, a pilot valve opera-' tively connected with said piston chambers, a'shaft for the pilot valve, a rocker arm provided with a rack, a connection between said arm and shaftja shaft, and pinions on said shaft meshin with said-racks.

12. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank connected therewith, a commutative valve in said connection, means for actuating the same, a pump connected with .said valve, a four ported valve chamber,

two of said ports communicating with the actuating means for the'commutative valve and the other two communicating with the pump, a recessed pilot valve adapted to place the pump ports in communication with either of the other ports and to place the port that communicates with the suction of the pump in communication with both of the ports to the commutative valve at the same time, a motor for for controlling the motor when the valves are actuated.

13. In an elevator, an elevator cylinder, a pressure tank connected therewith, a commutative valve in said connection, means for actuating the same a centrifugal pump a four ported valve chamber, two of said ports being connected with the actuating means for the commutative valve, and the other two communicating with the pump, a segmental plate rotatably mounted in said chamber and prol vided with a recess in its under face adapted to establish communication between the port I to the suction of the pump and both of the ing a double chambered casing having two ports to the commutative valve simultaneducts, piston cylindersthe um and means P P, 115

simultaneously therewith to discharge fluid from the valve controlling mechanism into the suction of the pump,a motor for the pump, and means for controlling the pump' when said valve actuating mechanism is operated.

15. An elevator comprising a pressure tank, a lifting cylinder, a commutative valve and pumping means, said lifting cylinder being connected with said pressure tank through said pumping means and valve, mechanism to actuate the valve to reverse the direction of flow of liquid through said commutative valve, an electric motor operatively connected with said pumping means, circuits for said motor, and circuit making and breaking means carried by said valve mechanism and operated thereby to make and break the circuitsof said motor.

16. An elevator comprising a pressure tank, 2. lifting cylinder and piston, a commutative valve and pumping means, said valve and pumping means being constructed and arranged to permit the pumping'means to be operated in the same direction regardless of the direction of movement of the piston, and meansby which the discharge from the pump may be utilized to operate the valve.

17. A reversing-valve for elevators com: prising two chambers having independent ducts and common ducts, cylinders into which said common ducts communicate, piston valves in said cylinders, provided with opera-ting pistons, piston-chambers wherein said pistons operate, a pilot valve operatively connected with said pistonchambers, a shaft carrying a pinion and operatively connected with said piston valves, and a reciprocating rack meshing with said pinion and actuating said pilot Valve.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles California this 20th day of August 190%.

PARVIN WVRIGHT.

In presence of- FREDERICK O. LYON, JULIA TOWNSEND. 

